Where's your hall pass?
On the vanity mirror in the bathroom I wrote the following on the glass with a dry-erase marker, "Today is a classroom - what are you going to learn?"
On most days the lesson I continue to learn is that I still need more patience. FYI - my kids are excellent teachers. They know how to further my education on a daily basis ;)
The truth is - there is a lesson to be learned everyday - so what are we learning?
I called a friend on the phone last week to see how his day was going. There was a short pause - and then he replied that it was "one of those days." I remarked that it sounded like one of those "learning days," and he agreed. Apparently there was a whole lot of learning going on.
When you think about that a little more - doesn't it make the trials and surprises not so bad? In truth - they are unforeseen (or foreseen) experiences that create a learning experience. At the end of the day...
What did you learn?
I spoke to another family member recently who was thinking heavily about something, and I asked the same question, "What did you learn?" Once we were able to detach our personal ego and feelings from the experience, and look at it from a perspective of growth and learning - there was a whole lot of new insight to move forward with.
Isn't that the point? To keep growing, keep learning, and move out of our comfort zones into spaces where we are forced to learn?
I am going to butcher a great quote, but someone once said something along these lines, "That a sea captain never learns a thing on calm waters." You get the point.
On the contrary - most of us walk around with the "history of our life" under our arms - and we use it as an almanac of "why I am the way I am." Instead of using past experiences as learning moments - we carry them around as evidence to justify why we aren't living a better life. Instead of seeing the positive in what we learned - we dwell on the negative of having to go through the experience.
Think back to last week, last year, or 10 years ago. What are the days or events that stick out most? Were they the days when everything went as planned - or might they have been times when you felt vulnerable, exposed, and surprised? And, if that was the case - what did the end result end up being? How much did you grow as a result? Would you be willing to trade that growth and experience in for "smooth sailing?"
Here is another question. If you are smooth sailing through life - where are you going?
Hmmmmmmmm....
In my last blog I put it out there to everyone that '08 was the year to be bigger! Within 24 hours of that blog I had three different conversations and business meetings with people wanting to play a bigger game this coming year. With each conversation - I remember feeling excited - yet uneasy and vulnerable at the same time! This wasn't because these opportunities felt bad - but because I know they are going to push me to grow in new and scary ways. Sign me up!
So, be careful what you visualize for ;)
If you need help in playing a bigger game in '08 - my first meeting is always on the house :)
Much love,
Travis
FYI - the Leading with Mastery course taught and created by Sandy Wilder is coming to South Florida in May. This is the course I have attended, and have also served in an assistant role on two other occasions. If you are at all interested, we are needing to solidify enrollment ASAP. Call me at 561.676.4583 or e-mail travis@directlifecoach.com
On most days the lesson I continue to learn is that I still need more patience. FYI - my kids are excellent teachers. They know how to further my education on a daily basis ;)
The truth is - there is a lesson to be learned everyday - so what are we learning?
I called a friend on the phone last week to see how his day was going. There was a short pause - and then he replied that it was "one of those days." I remarked that it sounded like one of those "learning days," and he agreed. Apparently there was a whole lot of learning going on.
When you think about that a little more - doesn't it make the trials and surprises not so bad? In truth - they are unforeseen (or foreseen) experiences that create a learning experience. At the end of the day...
What did you learn?
I spoke to another family member recently who was thinking heavily about something, and I asked the same question, "What did you learn?" Once we were able to detach our personal ego and feelings from the experience, and look at it from a perspective of growth and learning - there was a whole lot of new insight to move forward with.
Isn't that the point? To keep growing, keep learning, and move out of our comfort zones into spaces where we are forced to learn?
I am going to butcher a great quote, but someone once said something along these lines, "That a sea captain never learns a thing on calm waters." You get the point.
On the contrary - most of us walk around with the "history of our life" under our arms - and we use it as an almanac of "why I am the way I am." Instead of using past experiences as learning moments - we carry them around as evidence to justify why we aren't living a better life. Instead of seeing the positive in what we learned - we dwell on the negative of having to go through the experience.
Think back to last week, last year, or 10 years ago. What are the days or events that stick out most? Were they the days when everything went as planned - or might they have been times when you felt vulnerable, exposed, and surprised? And, if that was the case - what did the end result end up being? How much did you grow as a result? Would you be willing to trade that growth and experience in for "smooth sailing?"
Here is another question. If you are smooth sailing through life - where are you going?
Hmmmmmmmm....
In my last blog I put it out there to everyone that '08 was the year to be bigger! Within 24 hours of that blog I had three different conversations and business meetings with people wanting to play a bigger game this coming year. With each conversation - I remember feeling excited - yet uneasy and vulnerable at the same time! This wasn't because these opportunities felt bad - but because I know they are going to push me to grow in new and scary ways. Sign me up!
So, be careful what you visualize for ;)
If you need help in playing a bigger game in '08 - my first meeting is always on the house :)
Much love,
Travis
FYI - the Leading with Mastery course taught and created by Sandy Wilder is coming to South Florida in May. This is the course I have attended, and have also served in an assistant role on two other occasions. If you are at all interested, we are needing to solidify enrollment ASAP. Call me at 561.676.4583 or e-mail travis@directlifecoach.com
Labels: direct life coaching, happiness, learning, self-help
2 Comments:
A well-timed post! I was having 'one of those days'...well, more like 'one of those weeks'. I just feel like I'm failing at being a father and unchallenged at work -- or more truthfully, not jumping at challenges (i.e. I'm sailing calm -- and somewhat boring -- waters). Thanks for helping me see things in a different light!
You are so right on! Thanks for adding a boost to my week. I'm ready to live bigger and hold on for that ride!
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